[QUOTE=Velma]
Yes. I own a 1997 passat and this thing is freaking expensive. I like VW’s style and certain things about their design are just great. The big, big downfall is that it is so expensive to maintain. Even a routine oil change is not routine, it needs special coolant, parts, everything is twice as much as a ‘normal’ car. It has weird problems like doors that don’t open correctly and electrical issues. But on the plus side, I have well over 100,000 miles and the engine is going strong.
/QUOTE]
what the fuck are you talking about? I take mine to jiffy lube. The filters are standard, the coolant is the pink prop glycol which is cheaper and used without mixing. I do use synthetic oil, but in general most cars call for synthetic or synthetic blend oil.
Costs me the same as the next guy. All my VWs from 96 onwards have been relatively trouble free - and I put 100 or more miles a day on them for my commute.
A caveat, you do have to maintain them with regular oil changes, and when a PMS point occurs, you do have to get it serviced. You can’t just go for 250,000 miles without expecting to change out certain mechanical parts. Follow the service schedule and you will not have any problems.
The only ‘electrical’ problem I have had is my current jetta has the monsoon stereo in it, and someone put something in the cupholder that ‘sweated’ or spilled down the front of the lcd screen and wiped out a line of ‘pixels’ so I have a mo_soon [it shows the word monsoon on it when it is just turned on] and I either am listening to f_ or c_. Yippee. Not worth fixing to me.
Huh. I get sent away from standard places like Valvoline and such because they never have my coolant and filters in stock. This is not just places trying to upsell me either, they actually won’t do the work at all. I have to go to an import mechanic or dealership to get anything done, and even then whenever I ask other people with domestic cars how much a routine service like new brakes or rotors or whatever cost them I always end up spending at least 50% more. Maybe this is just something different about my specific VW but I have a co-worker with another one who shares my woes.
Actually my brother and my sister-in-law just bought a FIT - they’re waiting for delivery early next year. It is a cute car but less than I was planning on buying - I wouldn’t be comfortable in a car quite that small.
Funny aside - I was just talking to my banker - I needed to liquidate some assets to pay for the car. She wants me to bring a violin case full of cash to the Volvo dealer to pay.
I don’t actually know if $35K would FIT in a violin case.
Which if I was looking to spend $15K on a car would be great. But I want something a little more pimpin’ than that.
One of my friends suggested the outback as well - I’ll see how it goes at the Volvo dealer on Thursday. I have a couple of “issues” with the volvo that I need to sess out, but assuming they’re not huge problems I think the volvo will be it.
Of course, I’ve never driven a new volvo - only the old ones - I could get in it and hate it - that’s what happened with the Mazda 6 - everything felt like it was too close together and I was stuffed in it - HATED it.
Yah - apparently the S40 may be a little under powered - that I’ll have to assess when I test drive it - I mean it’s got 168 HP which seems decent in my head, and I’m getting a stick, so I don’t imagine it will be an issue, but I have to check it out.
Secondly, the back seat may be a bit smallish - I won’t be in there, so I have to stuff my friend back there and see what he says.
Finally, there are some blind spots in the back because of the rear headrests - I’ll need to see if those drive me nuts or not - usually I can back with just my mirrors (and a cursory check over my shoulder) so hopefully it’s not too bad.
Then I just have to ensure that everything is where I want it to be in the dash. The photos I’ve seen so far seem promising, but you can never really tell until you’re in the car.
Beware WVs that are manufactured in Mexico (including the Jetta, I’m afraid) THere have been many transition & quality control problems in shifting the production. We love our Passat, and are very satisfied, but it was made in Germany.
Alice, I think I might remember you being up here in Calgary. EMail me about Calgary WV dealers. Some should be avoided at all costs.
Alice, there is a button in the front console that makes the headrests in the back pop down so they are not in the way. Might want to check to make sure your model or the models available to you have that.
I bought my daughter a new 2003 Jetta, she is still driving it and it has been completely trouble free. They have a good reputation here as well as VW on the whole and are a leading seller.
Only popped in to say that if you live at high altitude, a TDI is the thing to have. Modern turbo diesels maintain sea level power to nearly any altitude you can reach without leaving pavement.
